Timing Light

[The PIG Smith]

I just purchased an elderly Snap On Timing Light at a yard sell.
It does not have an inductive pick up, but uses a spring that snaps onto the spark plug and the spark plug wire snaps onto the end of the spring.

Can a person replace or install a inductive pickup on an older Timing Light?
The wires are not removable.

[Al Johnson]

Pretty unlikely, but it will be okay the way it is. Just don't hook up with the engine running!!

;)

[The PIG Smith]

I am digging this up for this as it is still an issue for me.

The little spring that clips onto the plug and the then the plug wire clips onto the spring is not in good shape.
It has been stretched and distorted so much that does not stay on the plug very well.
Also it tends to ground itself on the exhaust manifold.

I am in need of a better, stronger fresher wire spring, or some way to convert this to an inductive pickup.

[Serious Johnson]

Friend o' mine took an old one like that & spliced a piece of spark plug wire in place of the spring. He connects it at the distributor cap, and it seems to work. I've had my inductive light for maybe 30 years and, though it works as well as when new, it's still a pain in the ***.

S.J.

[drlocke]

It's all simply a matter of making the connection so that both the sparkolator and the light get the juice.

Cheapskate that I am I have had enough experience with that type of light that I'd probably walk away from it.

After using the inductive type you'll never look back. Use the direct type in humid weather, and have the ground lead suddenly pop loose and..... :omfg:

I've got an inductive type that is missing one of the "jaw" members. I just rubber-band a long Phillips sheetrock tip to the remaining part and it completes the core loop, enabling the light to work once again.

Yep, I did say I was cheap! :o :p